LETTERS

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Spurs Anger

I am quite angry to have been misquot-
ed addressing local reaction to the attack
on America ("Local Reaction," Sept. 14,
page 30).
I merely stated that I had both an
emotional and an intellectual reaction;
that I would comment only on my
intellectual reaction; that I saw a circular
jet trail in the sky that day, probably
over the airspace of Detroit
Metropolitan Airport, and that its
appearance was quite striking!
I also said that I hope the people of
the government and the people of this
country are careful of how and whom
they blame.

Cheryl B. Gluski
Huntington Woods

Detroit Jewry
Needs To Rally

It is disappointing to us, in the wake
of the. recent terrorist attack on the
United States, that our Detroit-area
Jewish leadership has not yet seen fit to
create or endorse a communitywide
event in protest ("Rallies Called Off,"
Sept. 14, page 14). Such a gathering
would indicate the respect for the attack's
victims and the solidarity with our coun-
try's efforts to defeat world terrorism —
which is so strongly felt by the members
of our local Jewish community.
Furthermore, we need this event to
show ourselves and others that we are in
this war together, and as a demonstra-
tion of the moral resources available to
us at this time of crisis, so that we may
steel ourselves against the long and diffi-
cult effort that is being requested of us
by our president.
The Jewish people have a lesson to
teach America in fortitude and
resilience, and a public demonstration
would be an inspiration for the rest of
America to begin to learn.
Is Federation concerned about securi-
ty? One meeting planned with and
closely patrolled by local law enforce-
ment would be much more a secure
venue than other community activities
that take place in the course of a typical
Jewish week.
If, as a Jewish community, we avoid
a public showing of support, and the
inevitable attack on Israel occurs and
brings a U.S. military response, that
will open us to the canard that
America is helping an ingrate.
Federation: don't let us down. Bring
us together as a community.

Francine and Robert Levine
West Bloomfield

9/21
2001

6

People Control
Their Destiny

History has proven that when
tragedy occurs, we hurry to find a
so-called reason. Last week's attack
on America, that horrific (and
please, God, never again) act of ter-
ror, deceit and cruelty, has created a
forum for interlopers of civilization
to ruin America. It also has allowed
pundits, media mavens and pseudo-
intellectuals to expound upon what
they imagine and harp on it before
the American public ("The Terror Is
Here," Sept. 14, page 20).
Too often, we think we know
why, without waiting the necessary
time to reflect. As Jews, we cannot
utter simple mantras to appease
ourselves. Though "baseless hatred,"
"rampant sin" and "weak prayers"
are good possibilities for "why," as
many have said, they are beyond
our power to prove.
In his Guide for the Perplexed,
Maimonides quotes Aristotle,
explaining that while God controls
life's principles, He does not control
the details. The sphere is perma-
nent, but the individual is not. Man
has absolute ability to act and do
what is in his innate capacity. With
his intellectual connection to God,
man can broaden his capacity based
on increased intellect and knowl-
edge.
Following the tragedies of Sept.
11, we cannot attempt to find God's
place in the puzzle. He is here. So
are we. We can only move forward,
by doing whatever is in our capaci-
ty, just as those terrorists did what
was in their capacity.
America's response has been patri-
otism at its best, through the volun-
teers, the blood donations and the
obvious love for mankind. We do
need to show love for one another,
not because of the punishment we
merit by not doing so, but because
of the simple, God-given beauty of
doing so.
That is within our capacity.

Shira Traison
Southfield

Volunteers Drive
Fame Games

On behalf of the 160 athletes of the
15th annual West Bloomfield
Community Fame Games, I would like
to sincerely thank all the fabulous vol-
unteers who turned out on Sept. 9
("Drowning Out The Rain," Sept. 14,
page 156).

While the Fame Games are an athlet-
ic event for children and adults with
special needs, the tremendous outpour-
ing and dedication of the almost 200
volunteers turned it into a truly inclu-
sive community celebration that every-
one enjoyed.
Volunteers came from all over the
Jewish community: some for the first
time, some for the 15th time; young
and not so young affiliated, unaffiliated;
from B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
and the Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit; and from social
action groups, brotherhoods and sister-
hoods. Families from private homes
came to have a great time with families
from group homes.
All came together on an overcast
Sunday morning to make the sun shine.
And most important was the message
sent loud and clear to members of the
special needs community: You are our
community and you belong here.
Thank you everyone. We could not
have done it without you.

Israel is the only democracy in the
Middle East. The human rights viola-
tions in the Arab world, and their sui-
cide bombers who murder unsuspect-
ing innocents, make one wonder if
there will ever be cooperation and
peaceful coexistence in that part of
the world.

Charles Kaye
Southfield

It's Time For
Jews To Unite

It is a scary time to be a Jew.
Two weeks ago, leaders represent-
ing the 6.3-billion people of the
world, gathered in Durban, South
Africa, for a conference on racism
("The Debacle At Durban," Sept. 7,
page 18). The troubling focus of the
agenda was attacking the estimated
11.5-million Jews spread through-
out the world.
It seems our Semitic brothers, also
known as Arabs, have decided to
Nancie Furgang
spread the word that "Zionism is
JCC special needs director, Jewish
racism." It is law in Saudi Arabia
Community Center of Metropolitan
Detroit
that should a Jew step foot into the
country, he or she is immediately to
West Bloomfield
be arrested. It is a crime to be a Jew
in Saudi Arabia, yet there is no
world outcry.
No one seems to be saying,
"Saudi-Arabianism is racism. Yet
I read with interest Annette Meskin's let-
the world, with the exception of the
ter describing Hadassah's recent conven-
United States and Israel, stands still
tion held in Israel ("Time In Israel Was
and allows the world to label a sup-
Memorable," Aug. 31, page 5).
porter of the State of Israel as a
Of all Zionist organizations, Hadassah - racist. Jews represent less than
has long been the most consistent in
three-hundredths of a percent of the
holding important meetings in Israel
world population. It is, therefore,
and, in my opinion, that has always
likely that a majority of people in
been a mark of distinction. Given Israel's
the 166 countries represented at the
current security situation, the organiza-
conference have never even seen a
tion's insistence on physical solidarity is
Jew before.
to be truly praised and emulated.
Yet the world found an acceptable
We all wonder what can we do to, in
compromise in reducing the language
some way, make a difference in this dif-
which gave full international recogni-
ficult situation. Hadassah has just
tion of the Holocaust in exchange for
demonstrated 2 beautiful and effective
dropping the Arab claim that Israeli
answer.
settlements are, "crimes against
Les Goldstein
humanity," as if one issue has any rel-
West Bloomfield
evance toward the other.
These same countries voted for 64
anti-Israeli resolutions between 1955
and 1992. The only way to eliminate
such broad political anti-Jewish prop-
aganda by the world is for Jews to
Kudos to Secretary of State Colin
unite, go out into the world and act
Powell for pulling out U.S. represen-
as a Jew should, demonstrating to
tatives from the U.N. World
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Conference Against Racism ("Losing
that Jews are not guilty of the "ulti-
Durban," Aug. 31, page 22).
mate abomination" of excusing our
If the Palestinian mantra couched
actions because we suffered through
in racism is about the death and elim-
the Holocaust.
ination of Israel, then the conference
Rick Dorfman
is a fraud.
West Bloomfield

Hadassah Leaves
Distinctive Mark

Will Peace
Ever Come?

